Studio couch



Aug. 11,1936. w. A. HOLT STUDIO COUCH Filed May 22, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 1 W ifialz W. A. HOLT STUDIO CQOUCH Filed May 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1936.

W. A. HOLT STUDIO COUCH Aug. 11,1936,

3 Shee t s-Sheet .5

Filed May 22, 1955 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATEINTV'OF-FICE s'rumo concn William A. Holt, Mebane, N. 0. Application May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,879

3 Claims. ((15-44) This invention relates to folding couch construction, and more particularly to couches of the studio type.

An important object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide a studio couch which is simple in construction, and one wherein the movable sections thereof may be moved to convert the couch into a bed, with the minimum amount of exertion on the part of the operator. A further object of the invention is to provide a folding couch construction including a pivoted seat section and a pivoted back section, the sections being arranged so that they will lie in parallel relation with respect to each other when the couch is converted into a bed, means being provided on the seat section and movable therewith, for engaging the back section securing the back section in its vertical position, when the device is used as a couch. A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding couch wherein the back section is so mounted that when the back section is moved to a position for sleeping purposes, the front surface of the backsection is. presented as the sleeping surface of the couch, thereby eliminating the necessity of upholstering' both sides of the back section. Another object of the invention is to connect the pivoted back and bottom sections of the couch to the frame by means of a system of pivoted levers and equalizing 30 springs which operate to move the sections vertically prior to the swinging of the sections to their active positions, thereby eliminating wear on the upholstering of the sections caused by the sections rubbing, as is usual in folding couch 5 structures now in use.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a couch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the seat and back sections of the couch as moved to con-- vert the couch into a bed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the'couch comprises a body portion or frame indicated generally by the reference character 5, the body por- 50 tion or frame being box-like, in formation, so that the body portion may be used for containing bedding.

The reference character 6 designates the seat.

section of the couch, which is constructed pref- 65 erably of the same material used in the construction of the body portion or frame, the seat section being rectangular in form, the front side thereof being wide, as shown by the drawings, so that when the device is being used asa couch,

-the front side will completely cover the forward 5 portion of the body portion or frame. When the couch is converted for use as a bed, this front side, which-is provided with feet 1, acts as a support for the outer edge of the seat section.

The springs of the seat section are supported 10 in a rectangular frame 8 which is constructed preferably of angle bar material to be secured to the frame of the seat section, in such a way that the springs and upper surface of the seat section may be supplied with the required uphol- 15 stering material.

At each end of the seat sections are substantially straight bars 9 and In, the bars it being pivotally connected to the bars H, at H. The bars II are secured to the inner surfaces of the 20 end walls ii of the frame of the couch, by means of the screws 14.

As clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, these bars III, which are pivotally connected to the frame 8, are of lengths to extend beyond 25 the bars II where they have connection with the coiled springs II, the springs having their lower ends connected to the end walls of the frame 5. Thus it will be seen that since the springs I are of the contractile type, the. springs will be placed under tension when the seat section is in either its position as a couch seat, or in its position as one side of a bed. It will further be seen that the springs ll act to swing the upper ends of the bars l0 laterally, assisting the operator in elevating the seat section when it is desired to convert the couch into a bed, or return the seat section to its position as a part of a couch.

The bars 9 which are pivotally connected with the frame 8 have their lower ends pivotally connected with the bars II at It. The reference character l'l designates rearwardly extended bars that pass through openings in the guides it, which bars have pivotal connection with the bars 8 at 9.

These bars I! are of lengths to extend to points adjacent to the stop plates 20 that extend from the lower edge of the back section 2| with the result that when the back section has been moved to its active position as a part of a couch, the back section will be securely held in an upright position, and may only be moved by first moving the seat section.

Due to the substantially regular construction and arrangement of bars 9 and in, the use of curved levers and tie-rods common in studio couch construction to obtain the necessary balance for lifting the seat section, are eliminated, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacture.

Pivotally connected to the back section 2|, are curved bars 22 that have their lower ends connected to the plates 23 which in turn are secured to the inner surfaces of the end members of the frame or body portion 5.

Associated with the bars 22, are bars 24 whic have pivotal connection with the back section 2| at 25, the lower ends thereof being pivotally connected to the plates 23, at 26.

Coiled springs 21 connect the bars 22 and 24, and have their upper ends connected to the bars 22 at points above the pivot points of the bars 22, while the lower ends of the springs 21 connect with the bars 24 at 26. Thus it will be seen that when the back section of the couch is being moved from a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings, to the position shown in full lines in this figure, the springs 21 are placed under tension and act to assist in returning the back section in the position as shown by Figure I, when it is desired to form a couch.

It might be further stated that due to the construction shown and described, the seat section first moves vertically then forwardly away from the back section and does not slide along the back section, when it is being moved from the position shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, to the position shown by Figure 3, thereby eliminating wear due to rubbing of the sections together, as is common in well-known studio couch construction.

It might be further stated that in the present invention, the seat section and back sections are identical in construction, making a couch which is exceptionally cheap to manufacture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. A studio couch comprising a frame, a seat section and a back section, inclined. bars pivotal'iy connecting the sections to the frame, rearwardly extended bars pivotally connected with certain of the inclined bars, guide plates having openings through which the rearwardly extended bars move and the free ends of the rearwardly extended bars adapted to engage the back section, securing the back section inan upright position.

2. A studio couch comprising a frame, a seat section and a back section, bars pivotally connecting the seat section and back section to the frame, rearwardly extended stop bars pivotally connected with certain of the first mentioned bars, guide plates on the frame, said guide plates having openings through which the stop bars extend, plates depending from one of the sections and engaged by the stop bars whereby the section provided with the depending plates is held in a vertical position. 3. A studio couch comprising a frame, a seat section and back section, bars pivotally connecting the seat section and back section to the frame, bars pivotally connected to certain of the first mentioned bars and means for preventing verti- 30 cal movement of the last mentioned bars and the last mentioned bars cooperating with the back section securing the back section against movement when the seat section is in its active position as a seat.

WILLIAM A. HOLT. 

